cal activity), clothing, temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity and air humidity – different combinations of these parameters may result in the same thermal
sensation,” notes a 2012 study by REHVA, the Federation
of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Associations.

Note that over 65% of an occupant’s thermal comfort is
dependent on your HVAC system. Unless your company
has a flexible dress code or you’re tolerant of personal fans
and heaters, employees have few options to influence their
microclimate without your involvement. This is a striking
consideration given how much a lack of thermal comfort
can undermine productivity.

Alleviating sources of workplace dissatisfaction is one
of those rare times that facilities management can make
a direct impact on the bottom line. A literature review by
the international journal Energy and Buildings found that
because employee compensation is many times higher than
building operations, “there is a potential monetary gain
due to improved worker productivity” when better indoor
conditions are provided. The data also confirms that the
“thermal indoor environment is … the most important
environmental factor in office productivity.” This means
temperature beats out other comfort factors like acoustics,
lighting and ergonomic furniture.

“When people aren’t comfortable, they can’t focus and
they will make their frustration known. No one ever says

PCRUCIA T TI / SHUT TERSTOCK. COM

FAST FIXES FORTHERMALCOMFORT

Improve your HVAC performance to resolve occupant complaints

Are your employees constantly roast- ing or freezing? Thermal com- fort can be a prickly issue for FMs when complaints seems like a distraction
from more pressing operational
issues.

Instead of downplaying these comments, treat them as a
clue that your system’s performance is suffering. By resolving arctic blasts or muggy conditions, you can see returns
on your energy bill, protect equipment longevity, and preserve worker productivity. We’ve gathered 10 practical and
low-cost tips that will help you root out discomfort.

Don’t Fault the Space Heater

Thermal comfort is far more complex than the temperature reading on a thermostat. While there are individual
factors at play such as personal tolerance and wardrobe
choice, there are six conditions that affect the perception
of warmth or coolness: “metabolic heat production (physi-